Safety Protocols
The safety framework for Buddi is designed as a layered, adaptive, human-centered system that actively minimizes harm while ensuring that users feel seen, protected, and never judged. Since Buddi is both a wellbeing platform and a chatting application, handling emotional disclosures, vulnerable expressions, and real-time peer conversations, this page outlines how the platform protects users, prevents misuse, and ethically handles sensitive content.
1. Emotional Safety Protocols
1.1 Real-Time Sentiment Monitoring
Buddi continuously analyzes the emotional tone of user posts, mood logs, and chat messages.
The system uses lightweight NLP classifiers tuned to detect distress indicators, including:
- expressions of self-harm
- suicidal ideation
- hopelessness
- panic
- emotional spirals
- threats or harmful impulses
This monitoring is never punitive; it exists purely to offer timely help.
1.2 Suicidal Ideation Detection & Escalation
If the system detects high-risk language:
- The message is instantly flagged as critical.
- The user receives a gentle, grounding prompt such as:
“It sounds like you’re going through something incredibly heavy. You’re not alone. Would you like immediate help or resources?” - The post or chat excerpt is routed to the Admin Safety Dashboard with:
- anonymized user ID
- timestamp
- flagged sentence(s)
- confidence score
- Admins receive a high-priority alert.
- If the user consents or is at extreme risk, emergency helplines are displayed directly on-screen.
Buddi never shames the user. It simply ensures they are not left alone with that weight.
2. Community Safety Protocols
2.1 Anonymous Question System
Users can submit questions anonymously on the front page.
To preserve safety:
- Messages are pre-scanned for harmful content.
- Hate speech, violence, harassment, or explicit content is auto-blocked.
- Admins can remove, freeze, or reply to flagged submissions.
Anonymity is preserved unless the content signals active danger.
2.2 Messaging & Chat Platform Moderation
Since Buddi includes a full chatting system, the messaging space is designed to be soft, supportive, and low-pressure.
Safety mechanisms include:
- profanity filtering
- anti-bullying semantic detection
- anti-harassment escalation
- warning prompts for aggressive or harmful tones
- immediate blocking of predatory patterns
Users may report chat messages manually, which moves them into the moderator queue.
2.3 Rate Limiting for Emotional Overload
If a user posts multiple high-intensity messages or chat entries in a short period:
- Buddi pauses the input feed
- encourages grounding exercises
- suggests journaling or guided breathing
This protects users from spiraling into emotional storms.
3. Data Security Protocols
3.1 Encryption
All stored data—including mood logs, community posts, and chat history fragments—follows:
- AES-256 encryption at rest
- HTTPS/TLS 1.3 for all in-transit data
- hashed anonymized identifiers
No plaintext sensitive data is stored at any point.
3.2 Zero-Knowledge Mood Storage
Buddi stores emotional logs without associating them with identifiable personal info.
Only the user’s device can reconstruct the full emotional timeline.
3.3 Admin Access Control
Admins see only:
- flagged message snippet
- timestamp
- anonymous ID
They cannot see:
- personal info
- real name
- full chat history
- message archives
Everything is partitioned using role-based access policies.
4. Ethical Safeguards
4.1 Transparency
Users are clearly informed about:
- what is monitored
- what triggers a safety escalation
- how data is used
- how chats are moderated
No dark patterns. No emotional manipulation.
4.2 No Advertising, No Selling Data
Buddi never uses emotional data or chat metadata for:
- targeted ads
- behavioral marketing
- third-party integrations
- commercial data sales
This is a strict, non-negotiable pillar.
4.3 Minimal Data Philosophy
Buddi only collects what it absolutely needs to function safely.
No unnecessary tracking.
No passive data harvesting.
4.4 Accessibility & Inclusivity
All features are built assuming:
- neurodivergent users
- overloaded users
- anxious or depressed users
- users with sensory sensitivities
Design elements avoid flashing colors, harsh alerts, or guilt-based notifications.
5. Crisis Response Protocols
5.1 Automated Crisis Companion
When a user reaches crisis thresholds, Buddi provides:
- grounding steps
- breathing guides
- coping strategies
- positive dissuasive reframing
- instant access to help resources
This appears before admin review to provide immediate support.
5.2 Human-in-the-Loop Review
Admins receive:
- context-limited flagged content
- a risk score
- recommended response actions
They can:
- reach out through safe messages
- anonymize the content further
- escalate internally
- approve system-sent supportive messages
5.3 Emergency Resource Bank
Localized mental health helplines are displayed automatically based on region settings.
6. Anti-Misuse Protections
To prevent trolling, manipulation, or false-positive overload, Buddi has:
- anomaly detection
- bot detection
- repetitive false-flag penalization
- account cooldowns for misuse
- quiet shadow-bans for malicious community behavior
These measures prioritize gentle correction over punishment.
7. User Empowerment Controls
Users can:
- delete entries at any time
- control what is visible to others
- mute specific chats or individuals
- opt-out of sentiment logging
- access “Why was this flagged?” explanations
Empowerment is treated as a safety feature.
8. Ethical Review Cycles
Buddi’s safety systems undergo periodic audits:
- bias analysis
- false-positive/false-negative reviews
- admin decision audits
- community & chat feedback incorporation
Nothing stays static; the system evolves with compassion and clarity.
Conclusion
The safety protocols within Buddi are built on the belief that emotional well-being platforms must protect without intruding, support without overwhelming, and listen without exploiting. As both a wellbeing tool and a chatting application, Buddi is designed to hold users gently, ensuring no one feels alone in their hardest moments. Every safeguard honors the user’s dignity, privacy, and inner world—creating a space where every voice, no matter how soft or scared, is held with care.